History of the Battles, Conflicts and Soldiers of the American Revolution War

The Siege of Boston: The American Revolutionary War, the soldiers and the famous battles of the conflict

Siege of Boston DefinitionSiege of Boston Definition: The Siege of Boston was a military phase that opened the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). The Siege of Boston took place from April 19, 1775 to March 17, 1776. The Siege of Boston followed the events at the Battle of Lexington and the Battle of Concord in which the British survivors of the battles reached a place of safety under the guns of the warships anchored off Charlestown, a neighborhood of Boston. The American colonists camped for the night at Cambridge, in the greater Boston area and began the Siege of Boston. The militiamen surrounded the town of Boston, Massachusetts, to prevent movement by the British Army who were garrisoned there. The Continental Congress started the creation of the Continental Army with the Massachusetts and unanimously elected George Washington as its Commander in Chief on June 15, 1775. George Washington assumed command of the Continental Army in the field at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in July 1775, during the Siege of Boston that included the Battle of Chelsea Creek and the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Overview and Summary of the Siege of BostonThe Siege of Boston took place was at Boston which, when the Revolutionary war began, was hardly more than an island connected with the mainland by a strip of gravel. The Siege of Boston began with the Battle of Chelsea Creek which started when American militiamen raided Chelsea, on the northern shore of Boston Harbor, for livestock and any other supplies.

General Thomas Gage

General Thomas Gage, the military governor of Massachusetts, built a fort across this strip of ground. The Americans could not get in. But they built a fort at the landward end, and the British could not get out. On either side of Boston was a similar peninsula consisting of Dorchester Heights and Charlestown. Both of these regions overlooked Boston. General Thomas Gage knew that to hold Boston he must also control both Dorchester Heights and Charlestown. George Washington knew that if the Americans could occupy only one of these regions, the British would have to abandon Boston. General Thomas Gage decided to seize Dorchester, and the Americans determined to occupy the Charlestown hills. The Americans moved first, and a bloody battle was fought for the Charlestown hills - the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Map of Boston Harbor

The Importance and Significance of the Battle of BostonSignificance of the Battle of Boston: The significance of the conflict was that after a period of eight years which included events such as the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1773 the British were ousted from Boston. The colonists control of the port of Boston was highly significant as this cut off food supplies and additional troops sent from Great Britain.

Facts about the Siege of BostonFacts about who fought in the Siege of Boston and who were the leaders of the conflict. Facts about where the Siege of Boston was fought, the location of the battlefield. Facts and stats about the number of troops involved in the conflict and the numbers of those who were killed, wounded, missing in action or captured. Interesting history and facts about the Siege of Boston:

Fast Facts about the Siege of Boston

Name of Conflict:

Siege of Boston

Result of the Siege of Boston:

The Siege of Boston lasted for 11 months and ended in victory for the colonists who, led by George Washington, forced the British to withdraw by sea.

Location of Battlefield:

The battlefields were located around Boston Harbor and the surrounding areas

Date of the Siege of Boston:

April 19, 1775 – March 17, 1776

Combatants:

The British Army fought against the the Massachusetts militia who became part of the Continental Army

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The Siege of Boston included the Battle of Chelsea Creek and the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Battle of Siege of Boston

American Colonies

British Forces

Names of Leaders & Commanders:

George WashingtonArtemas WardHenry KnoxJohn Parker

Thomas GageWilliam HoweHenry Clinton

Strength of Forces:

6000 - 16,000

4000 - 11,000

Number of men killed or wounded in the Siege of Boston:

419

1,170

Number of men captured:

30

35

The following picture represents some of the early designs of the American flag. The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield and used as a rallying point for troops.

American Revolutionary war - The Siege of BostonThe American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), which included the Siege of Boston, was the culmination of the political American Revolution, in which many of the American colonists rejected the legitimacy of the British Parliament to govern the 13 colonies without representation.

Battles in the Revolutionary War - Battle of Bunker Hill, Battle of Quebec, Battle of Cowpens & Moonlight Battle

The Siege of Boston

The year and date of the Siege of Boston

Facts, stats and history of the Siege of Boston

Fast Facts and info about the Siege of Boston and the Revolutionary War